Letters - Jan. 21

Why do we need chlorination? Save that expense and give us a water line to our homes that was replaced when? 76 years past.

What have we been thinking, we don’t need water?

The truth is simple; a misconception destroys us all.

Thank you, Dave Bick, city engineer, for some positive suggestions on the price of water for those who use less, those who use more. Solutions come from weighing all our ideas.

Allison Andrus

Hood River

Liberties and values

On Dec. 19 in the middle of the night, members of the House of Representatives were presented with a 774 budget reconciliation bill with less than five hours before they had to vote on it. The legislation passed the House by 212 to 206 and the Senate by 50-51 with Vice President Dick Cheney scampering back home from Pakistan to break the tie.

This bill includes $40 billion in reductions to various domestic programs. It allows states to charge premiums and raise co-pays for Medicaid, cuts child support enforcement and foster care programs and leaves states with $11 billion less than they need to meet work requirements and provide low income families with child care.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that by 2010 255,000 fewer children from struggling families will be receiving child care assistance while requiring two parent families receiving public assistance to work 90 percent of full time. “Sorry, Dad, you’ve gotta go. We can’t afford to have you with us.” No doubt these cuts will pay for a misbegotten war and another round of tax cuts for the wealthy, although I don’t know why they need them since they already own the media, the House, the Senate and Executive branches of our government. What else can you buy?

Richard Nixon was impeached for bugging the Democratic Headquarters and lying about it. The Bush Administration is bugging U.S. and lying has become a sport. “How much will those yahoos buy?” Where are the articles of impeachment?

I have been taught that you teach people how to treat you. What are we, the voters, teaching our elected officials?

The budget bill has to be passed by the House one more time. How will you vote now that you have had time to read the whole bill, Rep. Walden?

It is up to us, the voters, to stop the rapid erosion of our Constitutional Liberties. It is hard to be informed, I know. We are busy and the information is not readily available but when we vote we must know what and/or whom we are voting for. It would be helpful if the Hood River News published a roster of how our Oregon Senators and Representatives voted.

Bush and company were elected on a platform of “Christian Values.” What would Jesus think of us now?

Chris Burgess

Hood River

Solving traffic jam

What — another bridge across the Hood River! Wow! Recently ODOT and local governments met to offer a plan to resolve a growing late afternoon and early evening traffic jam backing up onto I-84 at exit 64.

A major part of the plan was to replace the present foot bridge with a vehicle bridge just north of the freeway. This proposal is like treating a minor bruise with a CAT scan when the solution seems so obviously simple and inexpensive.

First is to determine the problem, which seems to be extremely heavy traffic in the late afternoon and early evening headed for Washington across the interstate bridge. So let’s deal with the issue in seeking a solution.

One least-costly solution would be to place the northbound toll house at the north end of the bridge; then the backup is no longer an issue. In the morning the reverse is true since the southbound traffic’s toll house is at the south end of the bridge. As a result there is no backup to impede traffic on Washington’s Highway 14.

This change would not increase the number of toll takers, as this toll house would only operate during the congested traffic hours when the Port has two toll takers anyway.

Also to speed up the traffic, the Port should follow Cascade Locks’ lead and raise the toll to $1. This would eliminate the slowdown making change. Paper change could be prepackaged to not only speed through the cars but help with bookkeeping.

Finally, monthly car passes could be purchased for 60 trips for say, $30, good for only that month. Without a lot of electronic equipment to scan the purchaser’s car, simple numbered stickers on the windshield, changing color monthly, would hustle the daily user through with a simple slow-down as the toll taker tallies the number.

From where I sit, this is doable, efficient, and a tremendously less costly plan than another visually obtrusive, ugly utilitarian bridge across the Hood River to clutter up our environment and views.

Nancy Moller

Hood River

‘Unbalanced’ article

If you repeat something often enough, it begins to sound like the truth. This strategy is used regularly by the pro-casino group, but does it really merit another headline?

The assertion that a denial of the casino proposal in Cascade Locks would automatically place it in Hood River, should consign this article to the opinion page. Bob Willoughby’s contention that anyone is saying our governor is ignorant of the facts is pure fabrication.

Governor Kulongoski was required to negotiate a compact with the tribes in “good faith.” That he has done, and I haven’t seen him weigh in on the issue since. Things have moved to the next level at the Department of the Interior.

Lawyers and lobbyists have had a lot to say about Indian Gaming questions all over the country in the eight years since it became a Gorge Issue. They fall on both sides. It remains a controversial subject. Obviously, advocates for Cascade Locks and the Tribes will highlight arguments for their position. This is not news, or even new.

This front page editorial was not balanced by any other views, or advocates of any other position, of which there are many. Why?

Jennifer Ouzounian

Hood River

Free Measure 37

During the United States’ presidential election between Bush and Gore, chads were involved to make sure every vote was counted. As much of a mess chads turned out to be, it was important to show the nations of the world that the United States valued every single vote. After all, democracy is the foundation of our nation.

Over the years our United States soldiers have traveled around the world fighting and dying to protect democracy. Even today, hardly a day goes by we do not hear on the news that more Americans are killed. But thanks to our soldiers the Iraqi people now vote.

Voting is democracy; every vote counted and valued, and the majority rules.

Oregon citizens voted on Measure 37; 61 percent voted in favor, a well-established majority. Yet over a year later Measure 37 is tossed into the Oregon Supreme Court for debate. What debate is needed? Isn’t every single vote counted and valued in Oregon? The real issue is whether we have a democracy; the very essence of what our nation stands for is in jeopardy.

Wake up, Oregon, before you have to tell our dying Oregon soldiers that they fought for democracy in Iraq only to lose it at home!

Dottie Roser

Troutdale

‘Scientific horseplay’

Somewhere or time I have heard or read the following quotations: “All men were created equal.” “In God we trust.” “One nation under God.” “To God and my country.” And “So help me God.”

Then came one who in theory introduced another religion form; wants me to think that I might be a monkey’s descendant (or was it a monkey’s uncle?).

And now scientists want me to think that I may have originated from — stardust? Poppycock! What’s next?

These two pieces of scientific “horseplay” degrade any real purpose to life as the oldest writings had defined (which various religious sects have toyed with for their individual purpose), giving cause to demoralize the created man, thus uplifting his sinful nature, via acts of: bearing false witness, covetousness, stealing, murdering a created life, etc.

And why, after Columbus’ discovery of another land, did people of his country want to escape and “set up shop” where they had the freedom to serve the one true God without governmental interferences and where God was their guiding light, as is reflected in the writing of our Constitution?

It wasn’t broke, but Darwin and today’s scientists indicate that we should absorb their theories as fact in substitution for Creation.

If man (excuse the politically incorrect term) did originate from (?) stardust, would it brighten my life — or did Satan toss another “monkey wrench” into it? Heaven with God or Hell with Satan — it’s my choice!

What was mere man to gain if it was he, not God, who wrote that book that the pilgrims carried with them — God’s Holy Word?